Toyota automatically stops car before it can hit pedestrian

Post by gst » Sun, Jul 24, 2011, 10:18 AM UTC

ceejayoz wrote: post #33

gst wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's exactly the wrong approach. Better approach: Install a small wireless sender in the car that broadcasts at a given frequency. Then allow people who want a minimum noise level to buy a small receiver that broadcasts those signals (or another type of indication signal) to a headset. This allows you to keep the noise level down and at the same time provides "notifications" to the visually impaired.

Neat idea, but two significant problems. 1. Blind folks generally rely on directional sound. Knowing a car's nearby is better than nothing, but you can't tell how fast it's approaching you, from what direction. 2. In a city, it'd never stop beeping at you.

Post by lutorm » Mon, Jul 25, 2011, 11:45 PM UTC

fr0sty wrote: post #36

lutorm wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you saying it's worse to potentially cause an accident due to the sudden stop than to certainly have an accident as you run someone/thing over? I'm not sure I agree with you there.

This line of argument hinges on the assumption that braking input is the only means by which to avoid an accident. Cars have steering wheels and swerving is often an effective maneuver when attempting to avoid an accident. Incidentally, heavy breaking reduces a car's ability to corner which may end up causing accidents which could otherwise be avoided.